17 Nizammudin Markaz attendees quarantined at Mayem Residency.

The Directorate of Health Services has quarantined 17 people from different parts of Goa who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi’s Nizammudin.

A highly places source in the government informed that till 11 am today (Thursday) , all 17 Nizammudin Markaz attendees including nine from Ponda have been quarantined at Mayem Residency and their blood and throat swab samples are being drawn and subsequently will be sent to newly set up virology laboratory at Goa Medical College and Hospital for examination.

“These 17 people are at low risk of getting COVID-19 as they have already completed 14 days, however, we don’t want to take any chance hence their samples will be tested at GMC,” the source said.

The source said that currently DHS health workers with the help of state police have launched a massive drive in Goa to trace all Nizammudin Markaz attendees adding that the source appealed to all the people who attended the particular religious meet to come forward and get screened for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane informed that the 48 samples sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune have tested negative for the contagious virus.